what do you think is less threatening

If we're talking folders, I'd say satin. However, you don't see too many coated bowie knives, and I'd say that is about as threatening as it gets for most people.
 
Size, shape, and color all influence perception of an object and its wielder. All else being equal, a satin blade and colorful handle make a knife look less "weapony" than a black blade and handle do. Still, a satin broadsword in a SpongeBob scabbard looks more threatening than an all black Tenacious.
 
This thread reminds me of when a relative overheard her kid say something about a "bad guy". She then asked them if they knew how to spot bad guys, they said "Sure! They are the ones that wear black."

Satin and bright colors are less scary to most people.
 
From what I've seen, it has as much to do with your actions as the design of the knife.

It starts when you reach into your pocket. When somebody goes to dig something out of their pocket, everybody around them recognizes that they "need to get something done", whether it's paying for an engagement ring, applying a little balm to the lips, or opening an envelope. This moment of pocket rummaging seems to give others, especially sheeple, a little bit of warning. But when you grab a folder that's clipped to your pocket and open the blade one handed while moving it toward whatever you need to cut, it does not give people around you the time they need to adapt. Then, instead of seeing whatever you pull out of your pocket in the context of a tool to accomplish a task, they are going to react in whatever way comes naturally to them.

Next time you're going to use your knife in a context where it might be mis-perceived, you might try actually opening it with both hands, as if it were a traditional pattern with a nail nick! Maybe it sounds strange, but all other things being equal, the speed with which you knife appears seems to be the tipping factor: too fast and it's threatening.
 
I prefer satin or stonewashed blades
polished ones are somehow less threatening

no black blades for me
 
Shorttime said:
From what I've seen, it has as much to do with your actions as the design of the knife.

It starts when you reach into your pocket. When somebody goes to dig something out of their pocket, everybody around them recognizes that they "need to get something done", whether it's paying for an engagement ring, applying a little balm to the lips, or opening an envelope. This moment of pocket rummaging seems to give others, especially sheeple, a little bit of warning. But when you grab a folder that's clipped to your pocket and open the blade one handed while moving it toward whatever you need to cut, it does not give people around you the time they need to adapt. Then, instead of seeing whatever you pull out of your pocket in the context of a tool to accomplish a task, they are going to react in whatever way comes naturally to them.

Next time you're going to use your knife in a context where it might be mis-perceived, you might try actually opening it with both hands, as if it were a traditional pattern with a nail nick! Maybe it sounds strange, but all other things being equal, the speed with which you knife appears seems to be the tipping factor: too fast and it's threatening.
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Excellent points and eloquently stated. Demeanor counts for so much and so does being sensitive to what others are experiencing. Plus 100!
 
zImsKee said:
Cant go wrong with that choice. Pretty big blade though if you want to keep low profile. When I came to visit my parents I whipped out my 0560 and first thing my Mother said was that looks like a weapon. So just an example of how some non knife enthusiasts look at them.
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I was doing some IT work for one of my wife's friends business and left my Buck Vantage Force there :o . She calls a little while later and says I left my "weapon" there. :confused:
 
I'm undecided.
A Satin or polished blade is more noticeable. However with a black coated blade you can see the edge more easy.
 
Generally speaking, satin finish and orange G10 says (quietly) "useful implement with safety in mind".

Shorttime said:
Next time you're going to use your knife in a context where it might be mis-perceived, you might try actually opening it with both hands, as if it were a traditional pattern with a nail nick! Maybe it sounds strange, but all other things being equal, the speed with which you knife appears seems to be the tipping factor: too fast and it's threatening.
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That is a very thoughtful and well-reasoned post. :thumbup:
 
frenchmade said:
When I'm at work I usually carry an orange handled Endura, Safety orange definitely makes a blade look like a tool.
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I also feel pretty comfortable set up like this. Along with a ferro rod on my key chain and a lifetime of outdoor persuits, I feel that I can justify the Endura on the street to a police officer if need be.
 
If I were to flip the question (one I like answering better): What is the most threatening knife color scheme? Black on black on black

blade, handle, screws, pocket clip, loud action the whole deal. Good example is the blacked out spyderco citadel auto. Which i bought to scare people in case I ever wanted to. haha
 
Honestly I think wood also makes a knife look less threatening. Then it looks like a traditional or outdoors tool, not a modern "tactical" knife.
 
Completely odd, but in my experience most people seem to be less concerned with my coated blades. They definitely look smaller compared to the same blade in satin, so that might have something to do with it. Size perception seems to matter a lot more to most people than coated vs satin.
 
There's a lot to believe about the orange and satin theories. I was putting a new screen door up today and half of the tools had orange handles or coated. Power screwdriver, drill, a screw driver, pliers grips etc...
 
I tend to agree with those advocating for a "gentler" presentation.

I carry a full-sized folder. I generally don't use it unless I'm making a salad for lunch or some other food prep thing in the kitchen. In that environment, with a 10-inch carving knife lying on the counter, making a crack about "weapons" would simply be absurd.

For most other duties in most other parts of the office I use one of the other knives. My RF pocket generally has something a bit more refined and gentrified, like a stockman or a gent's locking folder (e.g. Buck 501, Gerber Silver Knight, Paul Presto). Now and again, I'll carry an AO, like the Kershaw Pack Rat or a Buck Paradigm. When I carry one of those, I make a point of opening it two-handed to reduce the "startle factor" in those near me.

Last week we had a lunch meeting (the client is East Coast, so some of our meetings are inconvenient), and I had a piece of steak that needed to be cut into cubes for my salad. The rest of the salad was already hacked up, only the steak remained. It's common enough at these lunch meetings for people to be prepping parts of their lunch, but a few days earlier one of the gals brought a steak knife from home to cut up the chicken breast she had. One of the other guys ribbed her about who was she gonna stab, and "remind me not to get you upset." All said "in fun" of course. So, with a steak to cube, and a jerk in the room, I elected to use a SAK with polished wood handles (yes, I keep one on me, always).

This one here:

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A knife chosen precisely for its "civilized" appearance.

In another pocket at that same moment I also had the Pack Rat (orange, bead blast, AO). Normally, that would have been my choice, but I opted for the one that just begged "hey, go ahead and be a jerk about this, dude!" Kinda funny, really. You could see the furtive glances at the knife, the body language that spoke of restraint. I cut up the steak, wiped the blade, put it away, and carried on with my lunch. No smart remarks from anyone. No break in the meeting flow.

Regardless of what large knife I'm carrying, I always have a civilian-friendly "cute" or "refined" knife on my person. Just for those moments.

 
Uncoated. Simply because coated or black looks more "concealed".
And when something that can be used as a weapon looks more "concealed" it scares people more.
I don't know exactly why. But it does.
 
BladeChick777 said:
Uncoated. Simply because coated or black looks more "concealed".
And when something that can be used as a weapon looks more "concealed" it scares people more.
I don't know exactly why. But it does.
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That doesn't make any sense. :confused:
 
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